Ex-Northwestern players settle alleged hazing lawsuit against school, former head coach Pat Fitzgerald: report

2 months ago 36

The radical of erstwhile Northwestern shot players person reportedly agreed to settee their lawsuits against the school, which alleged hazing and abusive behavior.

The erstwhile players agreed to driblet each claims against some Northwestern and ex-head manager Pat Fitzgerald arsenic portion of the settlement, Bloomberg reported.

Fitzgerald was suspended by Northwestern successful July 2023 aft an ex-player of his reported alleged hazing successful November 2022. The schoolhouse conducted its ain investigation, and though nary grounds was recovered of Fitzgerald oregon his unit knowing of specified hazing, it recovered helium had opportunities to study hazing conduct.

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The erstwhile players agreed to driblet each claims against some Northwestern and ex-head manager Pat Fitzgerald arsenic portion of the settlement. (Marc Lebryk-USA TODAY Sports)

A connection was released connected Tuesday by Fitzgerald's attorneys, Dan Webb and Matthew Carter, which focused connected grounds that their lawsuit "committed nary wrongdoing." Also, Fitzgerald is moving guardant with his wrongful termination suit against Northwestern.

"Coach Fitzgerald learned yesterday that Northwestern University and definite erstwhile Northwestern shot players person finalized a planetary colony statement to disregard each claims made by the players against Northwestern and Coach Fitzgerald," the attorney's connection read, via The Inside Zone.

"Despite extended written and testimonial discovery, determination remains nary grounds to amusement oregon suggest that Coach Fitzgerald was alert of immoderate hazing astatine Northwestern. The find has frankincense confirmed what Northwestern said done President Michael Schill some earlier and aft Coach Fitzgerald's termination: that determination is nary grounds that Coach Fitzgerald was alert of immoderate hazing and that, contempt a thorough and months-long investigation, Maggie Hickey recovered nary credible grounds to judge Coach Fitzgerald, oregon immoderate different coaching staff, knew astir immoderate alleged hazing.

EX-NORTHWESTERN FOOTBALL COACH PAT FITZGERALD SUES UNIVERSITY FOR WRONGFUL TERMINATION DUE TO HAZING SCANDAL

"While the colony resolves the claims brought by the players, Coach Fitzgerald's claims against Northwestern remains. He continues to asseverate that Northwestern illegally terminated his employment, violated an oral contract, and defamed him, causing important harm to his sterling reputation."

Fitzgerald was suspended by Northwestern successful July 2023 aft an ex-player of his reported alleged hazing successful November 2022. (Jeffrey Becker/USA TODAY Sports)

Fitzgerald was initially suspended 2 weeks successful 2023, but helium released a connection claiming helium had nary cognition of immoderate hazing. Northwestern players adjacent released a connection defending their coach, portion Schill admitted helium mightiness person been incorrect successful suspending Fitzgerald.

But much erstwhile players came guardant with racism allegations, which yet led Schill to occurrence Fitzgerald altogether.

Fitzgerald filed a wrongful termination suit months aft his firing, claiming that helium and Schill reached an oral statement that helium would look nary further punishment from the assemblage aft the two-week suspension.